Leo Richardson, of Happy Valley Road, pleaded guilty to possessing .12 grams of cocaine on November 29 last year.

Prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James said Police were patrolling the Court Street area when they saw Richardson talking to another man.

"When Richardson noticed the Police he shoved something brown into his pocket,'' Sgt. James said.

Officers became suspicious and stopped the car to question the two men, but the man talking to Richardson "made good his escape''.

When Police searched Richardson they discovered "a rock-like substance'' in his pocket, along with $267 in cash. Sgt. James said the substance was found to be 83 percent pure cocaine.

"I'm sorry for what happened and it will never happen again,'' said Richardson, telling Acting Magistrate the Wor. Kim White he was now employed as a nightclub security guard and he asked that the fact that he had two children be taken into consideration.

"You have several prior convictions of cannabis possession but not cocaine,'' Mr. White noted. "You are a repeat offender. I have to take this into account.'' He also fined Richardson the same amount that was found in his pocket and urged him to get help while he still could. "Next time it won't be a fine,'' he said. "Next time, the Magistrate will have to consider a term of imprisonment.''